Learning goal: to understand the relation between the strength of an acid or a base and its pka and pkb values. the degree to which a weak acid dissociates in solution is given by its acid-ionization constant, ka. for the generic weak acid, ha, ha(aq)⇌a−(aq)+h+(aq) and the acid-ionization constant is given by ka=[a−][h+][ha] similarly, the degree to which a weak base reacts with h2o in solution is given by its base-ionization constant, kb. for the generic weak base, b, b(aq)+h2o(l)⇌bh+(aq)+oh−(aq) and the base-ionization constant is given by kb=[bh+][oh−][b]